Can-heading machine.



PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903. AP. WOLFE. CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 1902.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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PATENTED OCT. 20, 903.

A. WOLFE. (JAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 22. 1902. V

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

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mz NbRRls PKTERS co, PMOYO-LKTHO, WASHINGTON, o. c.

l PATENTED OCT. 2o,19os. A. P. WOLFE.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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PATENTED .001. 20,1903.

I A. P. WOLFE.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

' AIPLIUATION FILED JULY 22. 1902.

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' UNIT D STATES Patented October 20, 1903.'

P TENT OFFICE...

ARTHUR P. WOLFE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NIAGARA MACHINE &TOOL WORKS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CAN-HEADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Ijatent No. 741,869, dated October 20, 1903.

Application filed July 22. 1902. Serial No. 116.533. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ARTHUR P. WOLFE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New Yorlghave invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Heading Machines, of which th following is a specification.

This invention relates to acan-heading ma chine of that kind in which the two heads, or top and bottom of a can, which have been previously provided with marginal securingflanges, are simultaneously applied to the op site ends of the cylindrical body of the can, with their flanges surrounding the ends of the body, after which the head-flauges are crimped or pressed inward to tightly embrace the ends ofthe body to hold the heads in place.

The object of the invention is to provide a can-heading machine of simple and compact construction capable of rapidly and accurately applying the'heads to the bodies and which is practically universally adjustable,

. so as to enable a single machine to operate bodiment of the invention which at the pros out is deemed preferable, briefly stated, is constructed and operates as follows: The machine is provided with a rotary chuck the opposable gripping-heads of which are carried by slide-heads movable toward and from each other. The slide-heads are provided with supports for the can bodies and heads. A can-body and two heads are fed simultaneously to said supports, with the can-heads between the ends of the body and the chuckheads and their marginal securing -flanges facing or extending toward the can-body. The slide-heads are then moved toward each other, and the ends of the can-body, which are guided by'suitable parts on the'supports, engage the heads inside of their securing-flanges. The heads being held from inward movement by the body are engaged by the two rotary chuck-heads, which move inward with the slide-heads, and the can-body, together with the heads in place thereon, is rotated with the chuck. While the can is rotating, a

cams.

crimping-roll is moved against each headflange and the latter crimped or pressed inward to tightly embrace the end of the body. The slide-heads, with the chuck-heads and supports, are then separated, the can being held by two gripper-rods, which are movably mounted axially in the chuck-heads and are held inward to hold the can by operating "When the can body and head supports have cleared the ends of the cams, the gripper-rods are separated to disengage the can and permit the latter to pass from the machine. I

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly brokemofa machine embodying the in vention. Fig. 2 is an end view,partly broken away, thereofl Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the can supported by the discharge-grippers. Fig. 5

is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation in line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical sec tion through one of the slide-heads and its operating connections. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section .through one slide-head and chuck, showing the position of the parts before the can-heads are applied to the body. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the parts in position to crimp the head-flange. Fig. I) is a transverse section through the crimping-roll slide in line 9 9, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section in line l0 10, Fig. 7. FigQll is an elevation of one of the slidehead-operating cams. Fig. l2is-a fragmentary end view, partly in section, showing the operating-link for the gripper-rod. Fig. 13 is a sectional View in line 13 13, Fig. 2, showing the feed mechanism for the can-heads.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the frame of the machine, which may be of any suitable construction and is formed with a horizontal bed B, provided at the opposite ends thereof with horizontal ways or guides b, on which two slideheads 0 are mounted to slide toward and from each other. Each head is preferably constructed with a lower or base portion, an upright portion c at the inner end of the base,

and a bearing bracket or lug c, rising from the base and separated from said upright portion.

D represents rotary hollow spindles, one of which is journaled on each head in suitable bearing-openings formed in the upright portion and bearing-standard c. The spindles are rapidly rotated by suitable means, such as belts (not shown) which run around pulleys E, which are secured to the spindles between their bearings. The pulleys are preferably formed with belt-confining flanges, so as to permit the pulleys to move laterally with the slide-heads without disengaging the drivebelts from the pulleys. Each chuck-spindle is provided at its inner end, which projects through the upright portion of the slide-head, with a chuck-head or disk F. The chuck-head is detachably secured to the spindle in any suitable manner. As shown, it is provided with an internally screw threaded hub screwed on the reduced screw-threaded end of the hollow spindle. The inner face of the chuck-head is provided with a beveled circumferential edge portion f, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The supports for holding the can bodies and heads in position to be grasped by the rotary chuck are constructed as follows:

G represents open frames, preferably in the form of rings, which are supported from the slide-heads and spaced from the inner ends thereof bya suitable means, such as supporting pins or bolts g, extending inwardly from the upright portions of the slide-head.

H represents supporting-arms, which are secured radially on each supporting-ring, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, 7, and 8, and provided at theirinnerendswith oppositely-projecting fingers hand 72.. The fingers h extend beyond the inner faces of the rings-that is, the fingers of one support project toward those of the other support and are adapted to engage the ends of the can-body to support the same, While the fingersh extend beyond the outer faces of the rings or toward the chuck-heads and are adapted to support the can-heads between the rings and the chuck-heads. The inner end of each supporting-arm is provided with a face 72. which inclines from the canbody-supporting finger toward the center of the supporting-ring somewhat beyond the inner face of the can-head-supporting finger, and a shoulder h is formed between said finger and the inclined face, against which the edge of the securing-fiange of the can-head is adapted to abut. In order to accommodate cans of different diameters, the supportingarms are radially adjustable on the rings in any convenient manner. In the construction shown each arm is located in a radial groove 72. in the ring and is held in adjusted positions in said groove by a securing-screw If, which passes through an elongated slot h in the arm and has a head countersunk into the outer face of the arm.

I represents a feed-chute for the cylindrical through vertical slots in the bracket.

can-bodies. The chute is of skeleton form, being composed of parallel upper and lower bars 2 and i, which are provided with vertical flanges, which prevent endwise movement of the can-bodies in the chute. The chutebars are secured so as to be adjustable toward and from each other to accommodate cans of different lengths and diameters. The construction shown is as follows: 2' represents a bracket which extends upwardly at an inclination from one side of the machineframe between the slide-heads. The bracket is provided with lateral slotted arms i which project on opposite sides. of the bracket. Standards 11 are secured to the arms 2' by bolts, whichpass through feet on the standards and the slots in said arms. The chutebars 1' and 11 are secured to the standards by bolts, which pass through elongated slots in the standards. The standards being adjustable toward and from each other on the bracket-arms and the upper and lower bars being adjustable toward and from each other on the standards, the Width and length of the chute can be regulated to suit cans of different lengths and diameters.

J, Fig. 2, represents a guide-plate or device adapted to properly guide the can-bodies from the lower end of the chute to the can-body supports. The guide-plate inclines downwardly from the lower end of the can-body chute to the space between the can-body supports and is preferably adjustable, so that it can be properly positioned to suit the adjustment of the chute and supports, and for this purpose it is carried by a stem j, which projects through a guide-opening in the bracket 11 and is held by a set-screw or the like 7".

K K represent the inclined chutes for the can-heads. Each chute is carried by one of the slide-heads and is arranged on the opposite side of the machine from the can-body chute and in such a position that its inner end is opposite the space between the adjacent support and chuck-head. Each canhead chute is composed of an upper and lower bar 7c and 7a, the inner faces of which are grooved. The bars are adjustably secured to an inclined bracket k by bolts, which pass Each bracket 70 is secured at its inner end to the upright portion of the slide-head. The bars can thus be adjusted toward and from each other to suit can-heads of different diameters.

A can-body is permitted to roll from its chute and rest on the can-body-supporting fingers 72, and simultaneously the two heads for the opposite ends of the can pass from their chutes and rest on the can-head-supporting fingers h. The body-supporting fingers of one or more ofthe arms nearest to the inner end of the body-chute and the canhead-supporting fingers of one or more of the arms adjacent to the inner ends of the canhead chutes are removed, so that the can heads and bodies can enter the supports. The slide-heads are then moved toward each other, which causes the cylindrical can-body to slide on the inclined faces of the supporting-arms and engage the can-heads inside of their marginal securing-flanges. The movement of the slide-heads is continued until the chuck-heads engage the outer faces of the can-heads and press the same against the ends of the can-body. The beveled edges f of the chuck-heads act to center the heads on the chucks when the latter engage the bev eled inner faces of the beads on the outer faces of the can-heads. The can-bodies, with the heads engaging the ends thereof, are thus held firmly between the chuckheads and rotated with the chuck.

The mechanism shown in the drawings for moving the slide-heads toward and from each other is constructed as follows:

L represents a horizontal shaft which is journaled beneath the slide-heads in suitable bearings l at opposite ends of the frame and in bearings Z, carried by brackets projecting from the ends of the frame. The shaft is driven by any suitable means, such as a belt (not shown) running on a belt-pulley Z secured to one end of the shaft. The shaft is provided between the bearings Z and Z at each end of the frame with a cam M, which is provided in its circumferential face with a camgroove m. The cam groove is formed as shown in Fig. 11 and has a long and two short straight portions m and m respectivelyconnected by inclined portions.

m represents cam-levers, each of which is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on a pivot projecting from the bearing-bracket for the shaft L adjacent to one of the cams M and provided at one end with a roller which engages in the cam-groove of said cam. The upper end of each cam-lever m is connected to the adjacent slide-head. By reason of the described construction of the operating-cams for the slide-heads the latter are moved toward each other and arrested with the supports in position to receive the can body and heads and are then moved nearer to each other to engage the ends of the body in the flanged can-heads, after which they are returned to their initial positions. Preferably the upper end of the lever is bifurcated and straddles a nut or block m to which it is pivoted.

N represents a right and left hand threaded adj usting-screw, one thread of which engages in the screw-threaded opening of the nut and the other thread of which engages in a screwthreaded socket in a block it, which is connected to the slide-head. By turning the adjusting-screw the upper end of the lever and slide-head can be adjusted to position the slide-heads toward and from each other to the desired extent to properly act upon cans of different lengths.

n represents jam or look nuts for locking the adjusting-screw from movement. The block at is preferably loosely connected with the slidediead in any suitable manner as,

for instance, by a pin of, which passes through an enlarged slot in the block. p

"n represents a spring or elastic cushion arranged in a socket in the slide-head and hearing against the block a. When the slideheads are moved toward each other, if'the canheads are not properly placed on the canbody or if for any other reason the heads cannot move to their normal inward position the yielding connections just described between the cam-levers and the slide-heads permit the heads to stop, while the levers can continue their inward movement.

represents the crimping-rolls for crimping or pressing the outwardly-flared flanges of the can-heads to tightly embrace the ends of the can-body. Each crimping-roll is journaled on a stud or shaft projecting from a slide P, which is vertically movable in ways 19 of dovetail or any other suitable form in the vertical portion of the adjacent slidehead. In the construction shown in the drawings this slide is in the form of a plate and is provided with an elongated opening 19 for the passage of the rotary chuck-spindle and which permits the up-and-down movement of the slide in its ways. Each slide P is provided with a stem 19 which depends through an opening in the bed of the machine toward the horizontal cam-shaft L. The cam-shaft is provided adjacent to each of the slides with a cam-disk Q, which is provided in the inner face thereof with a cam-slot q.

q represents a shaft which is loosely journaled in bearing-openings in the depending slide-stem p and provided at its opposite ends with antifriction-rollers engaging in the camslots of the two cams Q. The cams Q, hold the shaft g from longitudinal movement or disengagement from the cam-slots. 'lhecams Q are similarly positioned on the cam-shaft and in the rotation of the latter cause the slides for the crimping-rolls to rise and fall correspondingly to move the crimping rolls away from and toward the work. This construction permits the crimping-roll slides to slide longitudinally on the shaft q in the movement of the slide-heads toward and from each other. ably secured to their slides to properly operate upon cans of different diameters. Any suitable means for adjusting the rolls may be employed. In the construction shown each roll is journaled on a stud-shaft, which is carried by a block 0', which is provided with an angular portion engaging in a vertical slot or way 0 in the slide. 0 represents an adjusting-screw which is journaled in a bearing in the upper end of the slide and is provided at its upper end with a head. The threaded portion of the screw passes thro ugh a threaded The crimping-rolls are preferopening in the block 0', which carries the shaft for the crimping-roll. By turning the screw the block is raised or lowered on the slide. 1

l The can-bodies are fed successively froni the canbody chute tothe supports for the can-bodies between the heads of the rotary chuck. The mechanism shown in the drawings for properly timing the feeding of the bodies to drop one on the support each time the crimping-roll is raised is constructed as follows: R represents a feed rock-shaft which is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the inner ends of the upper bars of the canbody chute. The feed-shaft is provided between its ends with rock-arms 1", which project to opposite sides of the shaft and are provided with fingers 0 1*, adapted when the shaft is rocked to alternately project into the can-body chute in the path of the can-bodies. The rock-shaft is provided at one end with a rock-arm r which is connected by a link r to one end of a lever T, which is pivoted at its opposite end to the upright portion of the adjacent slide-head and is provided with a pin '1', which projects over the upper end of the slide for the crimping-roll. The link r is connected by universal joints with the lever and rock-arm, so that the connection between the rock-shaft and the lever will not interfere with the movement of the slidehead on its ways. When the crimping-roll slide is raised, it engages the pin r raising the lever and rocking the feed-shaft, so as to lift the lower finger r from in front of the lowermost can-body to permit the same to escape from the chute and throw the upper finger inwardly in front of the second canbody in the chute, so as to support the other can-bodies. When the slide for the crimping-roll is again lowered, the lever r drops and the feed-shaftis rocked in the opposite direction, so that the upper finger is raised and the lower finger depressed, which permits all of the can-bodies in the chute to roll down until the first body is engaged by the lower finger and the bodies arrested. To enable the feed-fingers to be adjusted to enter the chute to the proper distance and to accommodate the feeding-fingers to can-bodies vof difierent diameters, they are secured to their rock-arms by bolts 7, which extend through slots in the fingers and arms. By this construction the fingers can be adjusted toward or from the rock-shaft and can be adjusted to extend a greater or less distance into the can-body chute.

The can-heads are fed successively to their supports at the opposite ends of the can-body by a feed mechanism substantially similar to that described for the can-bodies. The fingers s for each chute extend into the chute through openings formed in the upper bar of the chute and are secured to a rocking feedshaft s by rock-arms One of these rockarms is fixed by a set-screw or otherwise to the rock-shaft, while the rock-arm for the fingers of the other chute is splined or otherwise secured to the shaft, so as to rock therewith, but be free to slide longitudinally on the shaft to permit the chute to move with the slide-head to which it is secured. For

this purpose the rock-arm may be provided with a key or screw engaging in a longitudinal groove in the shaft. The shaft maybe rocked to alternately project the fingers into the chutes in the path of. the can-heads by any suitable means. For. this purpose one of the rock-arms is shown as provided with an extension 3 which projects over the top of the slide for the adjacent crimping-roll. When the slide is lifted, it engages and lifts the rock-arm and rocks the feed-shaft for the can-heads. When the slide is lowered, the arm extension drops and the feed-shaft is rocked in the opposite direction.

The discharge mechanism for supporting the headed cans while the chuck-heads and can-supports recede and then releasing the can is constructed as follows:

T represents gripper-rods, which extend axially through the hollow chuck-spindles and are provided at their inner ends with detachable disks t, which in the construction shown are screwed on the inner screw-threaded ends of the gripper-rods. The gripperdisks are located in circular recesses or pockets formed in the inner faces of the chuckheads.

t represents levers, each of which is pivoted on the bearing for the adjacent chuckspindle and has one end bifurcated and engaging loosely in a circular groove. in a collar i on the gripper-rod. The other end of each lever is connected by a link U to the upper end of a' cam-lever V. The cam-levers are fulcrumed intermediate of their ends on the bearing-brackets for the cam-shaft L and are provided at their opposite ends with antifriction-rolls', which engage in cam-grooves v in the circumferences of cams 02, secured to the cam-shaft L. The connections of the cam- 1 levers with the links are loose, so as to permit the gripper-rods to move with the chuckheads when the latter are moved toward each other to grasp the can. As shown, the links are provided with slots 0 in their outer ends, in which engage pins or bolts '0 on the camlevers. The form of the grooves in the operating-cams for the gripper-rods is such that when the cam-shaft is rotated and the slideheads are moved toward each other the gripper-rods are permitted to move with the slideheads and when the slide-heads are retracted after the can-heads have been applied to the can-body the gripper-rods are held inward with their disks engaging the can and supporting the same clear of the can-supports, and after the slide-heads have been retracted sufficiently far to carry the can-supports outwardly beyond the ends of the headed can the cam-levers are operated to move the gripper-rods outwardly, so as to disengage the can and permit it to fall from between the gripper-disks. Thelinksconnectingthecamlevers with the operating-levers for the gripper-rods are adjustable in length, so as to permit the slide-heads to be adjusted nearer to or farther from each other to suit cans of different lengths. In the construction shown each link is composed of a cylindrical rod a and a semitubular rod it, the ends of which overlap in a collar a The collar is provided with a set-screw which bears against one of the rods and is adapted to force the rods toward each other and clamp the same in the collar a By the described mechanism the headed can is supported by the gripper-rods entirely free of the can-supports, and when the latter are separated with the slide-heads there is no possibility of the shoulders on the fingers of the supporting-arms catching the can-head flanges and interfering with the discharge of the can or tearing the heads from the body. When the headed can is released by the gripper-rods, it drops from between the same and passes over the inclined rear side of the bed of the machine. A suitable discharge-chute (not shown) may be provided to receive the cans from the grippers.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, rotary chuckheads carried by and movable with said slideheads for holding and rotating the can, supports carried by said slide-heads for holding the can-bod y and can-heads before the same are grasped by said chuck-heads, a chute for the can-bodies, inclined chutes for the canheads each carried by and movable with one of said slide-heads, and means for operating said slide-heads to engage the ends-of the canbody with the can-heads, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, an operating device for each head, an adjustable connection between said slide-head and its operating device, a rotary chuck-head carried by and-movable with each slide-head, supports for the can-body and can-heads carried by said-slideheads, chutes for the can-headscarried by and movable with said slide-heads, and a chute for the can-bodies which is adjustable to accommodate bodies of different lengths, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of slide-heads, means for moving said slide-heads toward and from each other, adjustable connections between the slide-heads and their operating means whereby the heads. can be adjusted to suit cans of different lengths, a rotary chuck-head carried by each slide-head, supports for the can-body and can-heads carried by said slideheads and adjustable radially to suit cans of different diameters, chutes for the can-heads carried by said slide-heads and adjustable to accommodate heads of different diameters, and a chute for the can-bodies which is adjustable to accommodate bodies of different lengths and diameters, substantially as set forth.

4:- The combination of a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can body and heads, and supports for the can body and heads each comprising a frame, radially-adj ustable arms secured to said frame and provided with porvided with portions for supporting the can-v body, portions for supporting the can-head, and inclined portions for guiding. the end of the body into the can'head, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can body and heads, and supports for the can body and heads each comprising a ring, radial arms secured to said ring and provided with can-body-supporting fingers which project to one side of said ring, can-head-supporting fingers which project to the other side of said ring, and inclined portions connecting said can-body and said can-head-supporting fingers for guiding the end of the body into the can-head, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can body and heads, supports for the can body and heads each comprising a ring, radial arms secured to said ring and provided with can-body-supporting fingers which project to one side of said ring, can-head-supporting fingers which project to the otherside of said ring, and inclined portions connecting said can-bodyand can-head supporting fingers, a chute for the can-bodies arranged opposite to the space between said can-supports, and chutes for the can-heads arranged opposite to the can-head-supporting fingers of said can-supports, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can body and heads, supports for the can body and heads, each comprising a ring provided with can-bodysupporting fingers projecting to one side of the ring, andcan-head supporting fingers projecting to the other side of the 'ring, a chute for the can-bodies arranged at one side of the chuck, chutes for the can-heads arranged at the other side of said chuck opposite to the can-head-supporting fingers, one or more of the can-body-supporting fingers adjacent to the can body chute being removed, and one or more of -the can-head-supporting fingers adjacent to the can -head chutes being removed, substantially as set forth. i

9. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, supports forthe can body and heads carried bysaidlslide-heads, rotary chuck-heads carried by and movable with said slide-heads, gripper-rods arranged axially in said rotary chuck-heads and movable relative thereto, a cam-shaft, cams thereon, connections between said cams and said slide-heads for moving the latter, cams on said cam-shaft, and connections between said last-mentioned cams and said gripper-rods for operating the latter, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, supports for the can-body and can-heads,a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can body and heads, crimping-rolls, parts carried by and movable on said slide-heads and carrying said crimping-rolls, and means for operating said parts to move said crimping-rolls toward and from said rotary chuck, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, supports for the can-body and can-heads, a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can-body and can-heads, slides carried by said slide-heads, crimping-rolls carried by said slides, and means for operating said crimping-r011 slides for moving said crimping-rolls toward and from said rotary chuck, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, supports for the can-body and can-heads, a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can-body and can-heads, a cam-shaft, cams thereon, connections between said cams and said slideheads for operating the same, crimping-rolls movably mounted on said slide-heads, and

operating connections between said cam-shaft and said crimping-rolls for moving said crimping-rolls toward and from said rotary chuck, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, supports for the can-body and can-heads, a rotary chuck for holding and rotating the can body and heads, crimping-rolls, slides movably mounted on said slide -heads and carrying said crimping-rolls, a cam-shaft, and cams thereon operatively connected to said slides for the crimping-rolls, whereby the crimpingroll slides can move with said slide-heads,substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of slide-heads movable toward and from each other, supports for the can-body and can-heads, a rotary chuck for holding and rotating said can body and heads, crimping-rolls, slides mounted on said slide-heads and carrying said crimping-rolls, a cam-shaft, cams thereon, a shaft between and operated by said cams, and slide connectionsbetween said shaft and said slides for the crimping-rolls, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 12th day of July, 1902.

ARTHUR P. WOLFE.

WVitnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY. 

